Jedburgh Justice and Kentish Fire

The Origins of English in Ten Phases and Expressions

Did you know that Jedburgh Justice is ???executing someone first, then giving them a trial???? Or that Kentish Fire is ???applauding sarcastically to silence your opponents????

From the author of Haggard Hawks and Paltry Poltroons , this is a fascinating collection of curious phrases and expressions from the English language, together with the stories of their etymology and anecdotes about their use in history. Where Haggard Hawks focused on lists of ten words of a particular kind, this collection instead focuses on lists phrases and expressions, also arranged by their quirky and specific origins.